Precision airdrop system and method
A system and method for calculating a flight plan and a precision release point for an aircraft carrying a payload includes supplying, from a four-dimensional (4D) wind measurement system, 4D wind data indicative of atmospheric wind velocity and direction (i) at and within a first threshold distance around a current flight level of the aircraft, (ii) at and within a second threshold distance around a drop zone for the payload, and (iii) at and within a third threshold distance around a plurality of different altitudes. The 4D wind data is continuously sampled, in a processing system, and is iteratively processes, in the processing system, to calculate, using a release point model implemented in the processing system, a flight plan for the aircraft and a precision release point for the payload.
1 . An adaptive airdrop system for an aircraft carrying a payload, comprising:
a four-dimensional (4D) wind measurement system configured to (i) continuously measure at least atmospheric wind velocity and direction at and within a first threshold distance around a current flight level of the aircraft, at and within a second threshold distance around a drop zone for the payload, and at and within a third threshold distance around a plurality of different altitudes and (ii) supply 4D wind data indicative thereof;
a processing system in operable communication with the 4D wind measurement system and configured to:
(i) continuously sample the 4D wind data,
(ii) implement a release point model, and
(iii) iteratively process the 4D wind data to calculate, using the release point model, a flight plan for the aircraft and a precision release point for the payload; and
a flight management system (FMS) in operable communication with the processing system, the FMS configured to receive and implement the flight plan.
2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the processing system is further configured to process the 4D wind data to calculate, using the release point model, a projected trajectory of the payload if it is released from the precision release point.
3 . The system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a display device in operable communication with the processing system, the display device configured to at least selectively display the flight plan and the precision release point.
4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the 4D wind measurement system comprises an ultraviolet LIDAR (UV LIDAR) system.
5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the 4D wind measurement system is a ground-based system.
6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the 4D wind measurement system is disposed in at least one aircraft.
7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein the at least one aircraft is at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
8 . A method for calculating a flight plan and a precision release point for an aircraft carrying a payload, the method comprising the steps of:
supplying, from a four-dimensional (4D) wind measurement system, 4D wind data indicative of atmospheric wind velocity and direction (i) at and within a first threshold distance around a current flight level of the aircraft, (ii) at and within a second threshold distance around a drop zone for the payload, and (iii) at and within a third threshold distance around a plurality of different altitudes;
continuously sampling, in a processing system, the 4D wind data;
iteratively processing the 4D wind data in the processing system to calculate, using a release point model implemented in the processing system, a flight plan for the aircraft and a precision release point for the payload;
receiving the flight plan in a flight management system (FMS); and
implementing the flight plan using the FMS.
9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:
calculating, using the release point model implemented in the processing system, a projected trajectory of the payload if it is released from the precision release point.
10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising selectively displaying, on a display device, the flight plan and the precision release point.
11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the 4D wind measurement system comprises an ultraviolet LIDAR (UV LIDAR) system.
12 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the 4D wind measurement system is a ground-based system.
13 . The method of claim 8 , wherein the 4D wind measurement system is disposed in at least one aircraft.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the at least one aircraft is at least one unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV).
15 . An aircraft, comprising:
a fuselage adapted to have a payload disposed therein; and
an adaptive airdrop system disposed at least partially within the fuselage, the adaptive airdrop system comprising:
a four-dimensional (4D) wind measurement system configured to (i) continuously measure at least atmospheric wind velocity and direction at and within a first threshold distance around a current flight level of the aircraft, at and within a second threshold distance around a drop zone for the payload, and at and within a third threshold distance around a plurality of different altitudes and (ii) supply 4D wind data indicative thereof;
a processing system in operable communication with the 4D wind measurement system and configured to:
(i) continuously sample the 4D wind data,
(ii) implement a release point model, and
(iii) iteratively process the 4D wind data to calculate, using the release point model, a flight plan for the aircraft and a precision release point for the payload; and
a flight management system (FMS) in operable communication with the processing system, the FMS configured to receive and implement the flight plan.
16 . The aircraft of claim 15 , wherein the processing system is further configured to process the 4D wind data to calculate, using the release point model, a projected trajectory of the payload if it is released from the precision release point.
17 . The aircraft of claim 15 , further comprising:
a display device in operable communication with the processing system, the display device configured to at least selectively display the flight plan and the precision release point.